Roof leaks are never a good thing in any home. This is one of the reasons why gutter protection systems have increased in popularity in recent years. Clogged gutters are arguably the most common cause of leakage in many roofing systems. Aside from the damage the water can inflict on the structure of your roof, there’s another hidden danger to water penetration that often goes unnoticed: wet insulation.
Insulating your attic is an effective way of improving the energy efficiency of your home, protecting it from any heat or cooling loss depending on the season. However, wet insulation loses a lot of its efficiency and could actually cause more problems.
Increased Weight
Water adds a ton of weight to whatever type of insulation you may have. For roofing structures, this can be bad as it puts more stress on the joists and beams that hold up the roof. Over time, this can lead to bending, warping, or breaking.
Mold and Mildew
Insulation fibers provide a warm environment for mold and mildew to thrive. Throw in moisture from a leaking roof or gutter, and you create the ideal setting for the growth and spread of these organisms. While these issues may not be as serious as other types of problems, they can still impact your curb appeal by making your roof look old and worn out.
Metal Corrosion
Moisture is also harmful to the metal nails and fasteners that keep your roof intact. The metal components of your roof, including the flashing, the screws and even the bolts that hold them in place, can be prone to rust when exposed to moisture.
What You Can Do
When handling leaks, it’s all about stopping it right at the source. You can take advantage of the right gutter protection systems to make sure that your gutters are draining runoff from your roof effectively without any threat of obstruction from leaves, twigs and other debris.
Get Gutter Helmet® and other gutter guard products from Gutter Helmet of Piedmont, your leading provider of gutter repair, installation and protection services. Give us a call at (844) 204-1015, or fill out our contact form and request a free estimate today. We serve homeowners in Charlotte and other nearby areas in North Carolina.